In Focus: Industry responds to illegal practice consultation

The General Optical Council (GOC) recently set out proposed changes to the way it responds to complaints of illegal sales. These changes included a desire to build relationships with online platforms who had the power to stop sales at source, and requiring early lawyer input into investigations to ensure evidence gathered during investigation was admissible as part of a prosecution.

GOC director of regulatory operations, Dionne Spence, said: ‘We really hope the revised strategy and protocol will provide clarity and raise awareness about our remit and about when we can bring prosecutions and when alternatives to prosecution will be the preferred route.’